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| Odobenocetops |
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| This strange creature had lopsided
tusks, no teeth and sucked its food out of hiding places.
Type: Marine mammal
Size: 2.1m long
Diet: Carnivore
Predators: Megalodon sharks
Lived: Pliocene, 3-5 million years ago.
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Its two 25cm tusks made Odobenocetops
look like a cross between a walrus and a manatee. In males only, the
right hand tusk grew much larger - up to 1.35m long. It didn't have any
teeth. It cruised in shallow water
staying close to the seabed where it was safest. One species had an
echolocation organ, similar to that of modern dolphins. By grubbing around in the mud,
Odobenocetops found worms and shellfish to eat. Muscular lips allowed it
to suck clams out of their shells.
Odobenocetops was an air-breathing mammal
so had to rise to the surface in between dives. It used its powerful
tail to swim around. It had good eyesight but despite its size,
Odobenocetops had little defence against sharks. The tusks were not
strong enough to be much use in a fight. |
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